Nova Scotia Form K Non-Hearing Eviction Application
The Fastest Path to an Eviction Order
When rent goes unpaid and the tenant does nothing — no payment, no dispute — Form K is the fastest route to a Director's Order. It skips the teleconference hearing entirely. The Director reviews the paperwork and can issue an eviction order plus a monetary award for rent owing without either party appearing.
But Form K only works under very specific conditions. Miss one, and you are back to the slower Form J hearing route.
Form K Eligibility
You can file Form K only when all of these are true:
- You served a valid Form D (Notice to Quit for Failure to Pay Rent) under RTA Section 10(6).
- The 10-day notice period has fully expired.
- The tenant did not pay the arrears during the 10-day window.
- The tenant did not apply to the Director with Form J to set aside Form D during the 10-day window.
That fourth condition is the one landlords miss. If the tenant applies with Form J to set aside Form D — even on Day 10, even if it seems frivolous — Form K is blocked. You then need to file your own Form J and go through the full hearing process.
How to File
Take the completed Form K, a copy of the Form D you served, and payment to Access Nova Scotia. The filing fee is $31.15.
After filing, you must serve a copy on the tenant and submit a Certificate of Service (Form L1) within 7 days. For an application to the Director, use the methods in Section 13(2A): personal service, specified prepaid mail or courier, or qualifying electronic service. Mailbox or mail-slot delivery is not listed as a method for serving an application.
Free Download
Get the Nova Scotia Ending a Tenancy Checklist
Everything in this article as a printable checklist — plus action plans and reference guides you can start using today.
Form K vs Form J
| Form K | Form J | |
|---|---|---|
| Use | Rent arrears only (post–Form D) | Any landlord-tenant dispute |
| Hearing | No hearing — paper review | Teleconference hearing |
| Eligibility | Only if tenant did not pay arrears or apply with Form J to set aside Form D | For eligible landlord-tenant disputes |
| Speed | About 2 weeks; longer if more information is needed or the application is incomplete | 4–8 weeks typical |
| Fee | $31.15 | $31.15 |
Form J is the general-purpose application for everything else: statutory-condition breaches, purchaser-occupation disputes, renoviction applications, security deposit claims, and any contested eviction.
What the Director Can Order
On a successful Form K application, the Director can issue:
- An order for the tenant to vacate by a specified date.
- A monetary award for unpaid rent.
Either party has 10 days from the Director's Order to appeal. If the tenth day falls on a weekend or statutory holiday, the deadline is the next business day. If no appeal is filed by the deadline, you can request conversion into a Small Claims Court order and engage Sheriff Services for physical enforcement.
Get the Sequence Right
The Ending a Tenancy in Nova Scotia guide maps the complete Form D → Form K pipeline with the day-counting built in, so you know exactly when you are eligible to file and what to do if the tenant files Form J first.
Get Your Free Nova Scotia Ending a Tenancy Checklist
Download the Nova Scotia Ending a Tenancy Checklist — a printable guide with checklists, scripts, and action plans you can start using today.